A look at upcoming events in Sanford and Lee County for July. To have your event included in our monthly publication, email us at billy@rantnc.com.
JULY 4: Sanford Freedom Fest
The City of Sanford Parks’ second annual Freedom Fest will begin at 5 p.m. at Kiwanis Family Park. The night begins with live music from Jim Phillips and Carolina Keller Music. Fireworks will begin just after 9 p.m. Admission is free — bring your lawn chairs, blankets and coolers. The splash pad will be open until 7 p.m. and food vendors will be on site. Attendees can park in downtown Sanford and ride a free trolley to the park. The first trolley will leave from Depot Park around 3:30 p.m. and the final trolley will head back at 11:30 p.m. Learn more at sanfordnc.net
JULY 4: Wild Dogs Brewing in downtown Sanford will host Wyldfest with live music from 1 to 10 p.m. Music from Khallori, Shindig, Thirsty Curses, Clairvoyant, Whoop, Taylor Sharp, Le Lotus, Scoby and Hemlock Theory. Admission is free.
JULY 4-5: The Temple Theatre Teen Musical Theatre Conservatory will perform Footloose The Musical at 7:30 p.m. on July 4 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. on July 5. Visit templeshows.org for ticket information.
JULY 5: Wild Dogs Brewing in downtown Sanford will host its fourth anniversary celebration starting at 1 p.m. with live music from Patrick Harrison. Russ James will take the stage at 4 p.m. and Rod Brandy and Rusted Luck at 7 p.m. The first 100 customers who purchase a beer will receive a limited edition commemorative glass. Frita Stop will serve food, and soft serve ice cream will be available.
JULY 6: Hugger Mugger Brewing and Sanford Yoga and Community Center will host Beer & Yoga from 11 a.m. to noon at the brewery in downtown Sanford. Cost is $20 and includes a drink.
JULY 6: Hugger Mugger Brewing will host Line Dancing from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the brewery in downtown Sanford. Learn to line dance with instructors who are focused on having a good time. Cost is $15, with a drink included. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
JULY 9: Sips and Sequels in Sanford will host a Horror Book Club at 6:30 p.m. Every month, the group will read a horror book and come back together to talk about it on the second Wednesday of the month.
JULY 10: The City of Sanford Summer Concert Series will feature the classic rock group THEM! at 6 p.m. at Kiwanis Family Park. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and enjoy an unforgettable night of great tunes in a relaxed, outdoor setting.
JULY 11: Seva Yoga N’Sip will be held at Vinous Wine Bar in Sanford at 6 p.m. RSVP to get tickets to their first yoga event with Seva LLC. The yoga session will include your choice of glass of wine. Tickets are $30.
JULY 11: The B-sides (country and honky tonk classics) will perform at Smoke & Barrel in downtown Sanford at 8 p.m.
JULY 12: Vinous Wine Bar in Sanford will host Uncorked, a Stand-Up Comedy Show, sponsored by the bar, Carolina Wine Merchants and Two Rings Comedy. The night will feature comedians Tulsa Hudson, Madison Bergstedt, Eric Emerson and Greg Capra. Doors open at 7, and show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets at bit.ly/uncorkedcomedyshow.
JULY 13: The City of Sanford Summer Concert Series will hold an acoustic set at 5 p.m. at Kiwanis Family Park featuring the rock, soul, pop musician Fred Lee IV.
JULY 18: The Lee County Health Department will host a Wellness Walk from 9 a.m. to noon beginning at the Lee County Library on Hawkins Avenue. Take a walk and talk health with nurses on site. Visit with community partners to promote health and well-being. For more information, call (919) 718-4640.
JULY 18-19: The Temple Theatre Shakespeare Intensive Conservatory will perform Hamlet at 7:30 p.m. on July 18 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. on July 19. Visit templeshows.org for ticket information.
JULY 18-19: Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford will host its Retro Arcade Games day from 3 p.m. to midnight. Check out classic cabinet games like Galaga, Buck Master or Area 51 or even some older console games like Mario Brothers or Duck Hunt — all for free.
JULY 20: The City of Sanford Summer Concert Series will hold an acoustic set at 5 p.m. at Kiwanis Family Park featuring jazz, pop and blues artist Brad Bailey.
JULY 20: Hugger Mugger Brewing will host Line Dancing from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the brewery in downtown Sanford. Learn to line dance with instructors who are focused on having a good time. Cost is $15, with a drink included. Tickets purchased at door.
JULY 26: The House in the Horseshoe will host a battle reenactment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $5 for parking. This one-day event will highlight the struggles of the backcountry as the Revolutionary War engulfed North Carolina. The reenactment will begin at 2 p.m.
JULY 26: Sanford Car News will host its monthly Cruise’N from 3 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot in front of Camelback Brewing on Spring Lane.
JULY 26: Buchanan Farms will host its Watermelon Festival beginning at 5 p.m. Food trucks, sweet treats, local vendors, inflatables, a wagon train, activities for the kids, animal encounters, water play and more. Live music by Jordan Pickett. Tickets, sold at the event, are $12.
JULY 31: The City of Sanford Summer Concert Series will feature the group Free Range Beats at 6 p.m. at Kiwanis Family Park. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and enjoy an unforgettable night of great tunes in a relaxed, outdoor setting.
AUG 9: The Southern Touch Craft Show will be held at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 (kids 12 and under free), and parking is free. Come out and shop from more than 50 hand-crafted artisans. This is a one-day show only.
SATURDAYS: Downtown Sanford’s Farmer’s Market runs through November. Special events will be held on the second Saturday of every month.
MONDAYS: Circle M City in Sanford will host Monday Music Jam Monday nights at 7 p.m. The town comes alive with pickin’ and singing — guitars, mandolins, banjoes, fiddles, bases and their players will gather in the livery stables.
TUESDAYS: Lee County Library’s Summer Movie Series will run at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays through August. All ages welcome — visit LCL’s website to see what’s showing each week.